Stop Buffalo Abuse at Kambala Races

Buffalo bulls were beaten and prodded with wooden sticks, and their tails were pulled to force even reluctant individuals to participate. Some animals had marks on their hindquarters and bloody wounds, indicating that they had been beaten before the race. Many bulls had multiple tight-fitting nose ropes inserted through their nasal septum, causing them tremendous distress and pain. The race is also extremely hard on the animals' bodies as evidenced by bulls frothing at the mouth and exhibiting labored breathing.

On 7 May 2014, the Supreme Court of India ruled that bulls including buffaloes are not anatomically suited to racing and that inherently cruel practices — such as kambala, which causes animals to endure excruciating fear, pain, suffering, distress, and anguish — cannot be represented as promoting tradition and culture. However, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Karnataka Amendment) Ordinance, 2017, made an exception, which allows kambala events and other bullock cart races to be held in the state.

Several other kambala events have been scheduled between November and March of next year but with your help, we can end the suffering for buffaloes!

Sign the petition urging Indian officials to end abusive kambala races. The Karnataka Amendment needs to be struck down.

I have just learned from my friends at PETA that a new investigation of kambala events occurred on 11 November in the town of Moodabidri, in the Dakshina Kannada district, revealing that buffalo bulls struggled and that they were beaten, pulled by their tails, and shouted at. The severe mental and physical anguish that buffalo bulls are forced to endure during kambala races is inexcusable.

In 2014, the Supreme Court ruled that bulls, including buffalo bulls,are not anatomically suited to racing and that inherently cruel practices – such as kambala, which causes animals to endure excruciating fear, pain, suffering, distress, and anguish – cannot be represented as promoting tradition and culture. This, though, is the stated intent of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Karnataka Amendment) Ordinance, 2017, which allows kambala events to be held.